Step-by-Step Guide to SAT Preparation: What You Need to Know

Now that you have decided to give your SATs, the next big thing is where to begin with your preparations, right? It all seems so overwhelming – the SAT structure, the various sections, learning the basics, and not to forget the overall stress and pressure to achieve the highest score to secure a seat into one of the top-tier universities.

Fret not! Achieving your dreams is not impossible at all. All you need is just being extremely disciplined with your practice, dedicated to your goals and focused on your preparations in addition to approaching the test strategically.

So, here we have drafted a step-by-step guide to help you overcome all your fears, and challenges regarding the SAT preparation, so you can keep your worries at bay and focus on the right path without any hurdles.

Step-by-Step Guide to SAT Preparation

1. Registration of the SATexam

This is the first step towards getting ready for the SAT exams. You will have to register yourself and then pick up a convenient date and location for your SAT exams. Now choosing the date is extremely important, leaving you enough time to prepare, better at least three months before. In case you are totally unaware of the exam pattern, you can choose even a later date.

2. Exam orientation and structure

The SAT exam consists of two major sections, the reading-writing and the Math section. The overall score of the exam is 1600 divided into two for these sections, that is, 800 for each. You need to prepare differently for each of these sections, as they require different knowledge areas and techniques.

3. Know your weaknesses

You can know more about your weaknesses by assessing yourself on a regular basis. You will be required to take several practice tests that will tell you more about where you make mistakes and what you should focus on. The key to success here is finding your mistakes and learning from them.

4. Make a study plan and stick to the schedule

It is indeed a good idea to prepare a study plan based on how much time you have before the test to complete all the sections and leave enough time to review them. Just make sure you are consistent with it and stick to it no matter what. This will help you reach your goal score easily.

5. Set a target score

Also, it is equally important to set a target goal score to help you get into the college that you wish to get admitted to. Now, you will have to be extremely specific and very realistic about your target score, something you know you are capable of achieving and you can give your best shot to it.

6. Focus on test strategies

Once you know the entire syllabus of the test, it is now imperative that you start working on various test strategies. You need to work smarter here. Focus on how to eliminate answers, how to do guess work, how to manage your time efficiently, how to skim through questions first to get an overall idea, how to come back to time-consuming questions later and so on.

7. Solve more practice papers

And this goes without saying that the more you practice the more better for you. Practice papers give you more idea about where you stand in the entire competition and how much more you need to prepare.

8. Simulate real test environment

Also, while practicing, make sure you set real timers, exactly like you would have in the actual test. This will help you focus on being accurate in time constraints.

9. Be consistent with your progress

Being consistent surely is the key to success, however you need to be mindful of how you are doing. Keep tracking your progress and make sure you work on all the sections that you lack in.

10. Be ready for the actual test day

And ultimately, be more confident, take ample rest, sleep better, eat healthy, and calm down. A calm mind will help you focus better and think rationally while solving the questions.

Having said that, it is highly recommended that you have someone to guide you through this entire process, to help you track your preparation and help you make the best possible strategies to succeed at your SATs. And who better than EduQuest to help you with the same. EduQuest, one of the best coaching institute for the SAT,  is well-known for their best training practices and highly expert staff who really understands what their students want and how to take them on the right path by setting realistic goals and achieving them as well.